Golkar's Yorrys challenges Irian Jaya Barat results

Lawyers representing the losing candidate in Irian Jaya Barat's first election of governor have filed suit against the provincial General Elections Commission (KPUD) over what they allege to be voting irregularities. Yorrys Th. Raweyai's lawyers filed the suit at the Jayapura High Court in Papua province on Monday. Irian Jaya barat does not yet vhave its own high court.

Lawyer Radja Simanjuntak claimed the total number of votes recorded in Irian Jaya Barat's eight regencies and a city exceeded the number of official registered voters. He also said Yorrys had received fewer votes than he should have because hundreds of his supporters did not receive voting cards before the 11 March election. Over 78,000 votes were added to ensure the victory of Abraham Octovianus Atururi and his running mate Rahimim Katjong in the election for the new province's governor and deputy governor, Radja alleged. He also claimed more than 26,000 votes for Yorrys were lost.

"There were many people who did not cast their votes at polling stations or who voted before March 11," Radja said. He added that Yorrys' legal team had prepared 17 witnesses to testify in the case.

Yorrys and his supporters hope the courts will either cancel the inauguration of Abraham and swear in Yorrys instead, or call a new election. The provincial council declared Abraham and Katjong the winners of the election during a plenary session March 23. In the official count, Abraham received 183,279 votes and Yorrys 68,609 votes.

"KPUD has authentic and legitimate evidence to support the election result, but if they want to go to court they can. There's a legal process, let the court decide whether (the allegations) are right or wrong," said Irian Jaya Barat KPUD chairwoman Regina Sauyai. - JP

Background on Bas, 2nd-term Papuan Governor

From Tri Agus Siswowiharjo at ParasIndonesia

Barnabas Suebu, the man with a Mike Tyson-like figure was born 60 years ago in Ifale, a small island in Lake Sentani, Jayapura. Bas, as he is often called, started his political career early through the Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI) while finishing his Law degree at the University of Cendrawasih, Jayapura. With his popularity growing, and lobby skill improving, and was elected as Chair of the Provincial House of Representatives (DPRD). Aside from politics, the man was also known as a businessman. He once chaired the Papuan Chamber of Commerce (Kadin). In 1988, he was elected as governor of Papua (Irian Jaya) for the 1988 – 1993 rather peaceful term.

"I often visited villages throughout the province,” said Bas. His brush with death came when he visited Wamena. He was almost stabbed by a villager who claimed frustrated because of land problems. Later, after talking and discussing with the attacker, Bas asked the police to release the villager. He gave his attacker money and to this day they have remained friends.

From the five candidates, Bas seems to be the most experienced and knowledgeable in handling the mane problems of Papua. In a forum with the university students of Papua in Biak, Bas joked that there are three classes of autonomy community. “I got invited to talk here and there about autonomy, so people classify me as member of autonomy experts,” said Bas. Then, he continued, there are the governors and regents. “They are the ones enjoying the autonomy,” he said. Finally, there are the people of Papua. Poor and hungry. “They are classified as victims of autonomy,” he concluded.

The bitter humor in somehow summaries the current condition of Papua nowadays. The Indonesian government pours in trillions of rupiah each year as its autonomy allocated fund according to the Special Autonomy Regulation No. 21/2001. However, by looking at the Papuan condition, there seems little evidence that the money went beyond the bureaucracy. Ironically, poverty, and even famine, like in the case of the Yahukimo people, is the fact of life. These are hungry people living on a rich land.

Aside from poverty and famine, Papua is a land of conflict. Since the fall of the Soeharto regime, the demand for “M” (which stands for merdeka or independence) has grown in Papua. And the central government has not been keeping quiet. Several methods have been implemented in the effort to reduce the independence sentiment. President Habibie was helped by Bas Suebu who organized a meeting of 100 Papuan leaders with the president in his palace. In that meeting, the majority of the leaders wanted the word “M”, while the president, still fresh from the Timor referendum, asked them to think things over. Eventually, the delegations agreed to compromise and led to the birth of the Special Autonomy Regulation in 2001.

Abraham takes lead in Irian Jaya Barat counting

Supporters of former Sorong regent Abraham Octovianus Atururi celebrated Sunday amid provisional results showing him headed for victory in West Irian Jaya's first direct gubernatorial election. Abraham, whose running mate is Rahimin Katjong, was reported ahead in all the election regions -- eight regencies and one mayoralty -- in the newly established but disputed province.

Many of Abraham's supporters, including members of the Arfak tribe in traditional attire and carrying spears and arrows, flocked to his house to dance and sing in celebration. They were treated to a feast at the home, although latecomers were forced to do with bottled water when the food ran out. "Pak Abraham deserves the victory because besides being an indigenous man of West Irian Jaya, he has also contributed greatly to West Irian Jaya in the regional administration, including as the regent of Sorong," his campaign team manager Terianus Nauw said. He was confident Abraham, who is a former marine brigadier general, would carry out his campaign pledges, which centered on improving public welfare.

Elections and the assets of Irian Jaya Barat

From Yosef Ardi

The three teams contesting the first election for the new province of irian Jaya Barat in Indonesian New Guinea are Abraham Oktavianus Atururi-Rahimin Katjong (endorsed by PDI-P, Partai Damai Sejahtera and Partai Serikat Islam), Yorris Raweyai-HM Killian (Golkar Pary), and Dortheis 'Decky' Asmuruf-Ali Kastela (six parties, including PPP, PAN, and PIB).

The province has around 647,000 residents in nine regencies (Sorong, Manokwari, Fak Fak, Sorong Selatan, Raja Ampat, Teluk Bintuni, Teluk Wondama, Kalimana, and Kota Sorong). With hundreds of local tribes, Javanese makes up the largest of Irajabar population at 11.23%, followed by Biak Numfor (7.41%), Iwur (5.64%), and Bugis (4.59%).

Irjabar has huge oil and gas reserves. The US$3 billion LNG Tangguh project, owned by BP, CNOOC, and Japanese companies, is located in the Teluk Bintuni regency. Gas fields in Muturi, Berau, and Wiriagar with estimated reserves of 14 trillion cubic feet (TCF) will be the main soure of supply for the Tangguh LNG plants.

BP is involved in five oil and gas exploration activities in the new province. They are West Arguni, East Arguni, Berau, Wiriagar, and Babo. PetroChina, Lundin International, Pearl Oil, and Pertamina co-owns the Kepala Burung Block which already in the production stage. The same companies also operate the Salawati Block, also producing oil. Lundin has another block called Sareba, Bintuni basin. Meanwhile Medco International through its subsidiary PT Expan Nusantara has exploration activity in Yapen block, Manokwari regency

Fishing is the second most important industry. Several foreign-owned companies involved in Sorong's fishery business are PT Usaha Mina, PT West Irian Industries Fishing (WIIF), PT Irian Marine Product Development (IMPD), PT Alfa Kurnia and PT Dwi Bina Mutiara.